Mr John Biggs-Davison: While fully accepting what the Prime Minister said, may I ask him whether, as in this changing Commonwealth Empire Day is no longer universally celebrated, he would consider it desirable that some common anniversary should be fixed in order that the Commonwealth idea can be given at least as much expression as the idea of the United Nations, which is fully celebrated throughout the Commonwealth?
Mr John Biggs-Davison: I hope that when my hon. Friend replies to this debate he will be able to gratify the wish of my hon. Friend the Member for Essex, South-East (Mr. Braine) that this scheme should not be proceeded with, or at least that scarce British resources will not be squandered upon it. The right hon. Gentleman the Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes) did not want to be a critic of Colonel Nasser, but perhaps...
Mr John Biggs-Davison: That may be so; but we are at present dealing with this Government which has lasted rather longer than some of the Governments which have preceded it, and it is a Government which has shown to the world that its word cannot be depended upon. It has broken the spirit and the letter of the Agreement which we signed with it in 1954. It has broken the spirit by accepting aircraft and arms from...
Mr John Biggs-Davison: asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what reply he gave to the latest representations made by the rural district council of Epping and Ongar regarding the Blackmore and Doddinghurst sewerage scheme.
Mr John Biggs-Davison: May I thank my hon. Friend for that undertaking to review this scheme and ask him to recall that the scheme goes back very many years and is exceedingly vital not only to the local people but to agriculture in that part of the county?
Mr John Biggs-Davison: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many British subjects or British-protected persons from the Coloniel Empire are undergoing courses of study in Egypt; and to which territories they belong.
Mr John Biggs-Davison: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is now in a position to state the number of persons from each of the Colonial Territories who are undergoing educational or other courses of training in the Union of Soviet Republics or other countries of the Soviet bloc or China; and how many have undergone such courses since the end of the war.
Mr John Biggs-Davison: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proportion of the financial contribution to be made to the Kariba Hydro-Electric Scheme is to be borne by the Colonial Development Corporation.
Mr John Biggs-Davison: Is my right hon. and learned Friend sure that none of the British arms exported to Egypt will be sent to North Africa to be used against our French Allies?
Mr John Biggs-Davison: I am very glad indeed to hear that Her Majesty's Government remain open-minded on this vital question, and the House is indebted to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Rippon) for raising the question, even at this late hour. My reason for speaking for just one moment is that I was recently at a Brussels conference—not the Brussels Conference—on the subject of the common...
Mr John Biggs-Davison: If I followed the right hon. Member for West Bromwich (Mr. Dugdale) in all he said, I fear that I should come under the censure of the right hon. Member for Blyth (Mr. Robens) for having dealt with detail, rather as an administrator, instead of, as a politician, with broad principles of policy. However, I should like to express my agreement with the right hon. Gentleman that this country is...
Mr John Biggs-Davison: I do not propose to enter into that discussion, but if it is of any comfort to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Rippon), I have another quotation from Disraeli which I propose to use before I sit down. The foreign policy of the United States, is, I suppose, in a state of hibernation, but I believe that it remains one of the settled principles of American foreign policy to...
Mr John Biggs-Davison: Monypenny and Buckle is my constant guide.
Mr John Biggs-Davison: Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that Nigeria and the Gold Coast, which are approaching full self-government, do not at present give any Imperial Preference?
Mr John Biggs-Davison: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will arrange to make available to the general public, by sale or otherwise, the pamphlet "Why we are in Cyprus," issued as background notes for British Service men.
Mr John Biggs-Davison: May I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply, because this is a most excellent document which sets out very clearly why it is necessary to maintain British sovereignty over Cyprus?
Mr John Biggs-Davison: asked the Secretary to the Treasury what publications of other Commonwealth and of Colonial Governments are supplied by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
Mr John Biggs-Davison: asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the Conference on the proposed United Nations Anti-Slavery Convention.
Mr John Biggs-Davison: asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to make provision for easier credit for farmers.
Mr John Biggs-Davison: Following on the questions about human rights, may I ask whether my right hon. and learned Friend has any news he can give the House about Cardinal Mindszenty and other religious leaders of all persuasions who have been suffering Communist persecution in Hungary?